Programs

Putting your donations to good work.

IPSF leverages financial and in-kind resources to support a variety of programs, making significant impact on our city’s first responders and the public safety of our community. The IPSF Board of Directors is committed to furthering its work through these programs, with continual process improvement and data-collection for program analysis.

Summer Jobs for Youth
Helping kids build a future

Overview

To address the issue of lack of summer youth employment opportunities, the Foundation provided funding to organizations providing outcomes-based summer youth employment opportunities. These jobs not only provided an avenue for making money, but also on-the-job skills and training and the opportunity to keep them from engaging in criminal activity.

Outcomes

In 2014 and 2015, IPSF provided over $50,000 in funding to over 10 established community partners providing summer youth employment opportunities. The Foundation received Phase I funding from the CICF Community Crime Prevention Grant program for this project and supplemented with additional funds raised. In 2016, IPSF collaborated with EmployIndy to align efforts of the Graffiti Abatement Unit with summer youth employment by funding ex-offender laborers through RecycleForce.

Fire Exploring gives young people valuable insight into the fire service and public safety professions by offering hands-on activities as well as educational development opportunities. This insight we hope will help youth determine whether they desires to pursue a career in the fire service or other public safety professions. IFD is completely aware that all participants may not choose this career path; however, IFD recognizes that a robust Explorer program will produce positive contributions to the City and beyond. IFD has always strived to stay connected to the community we serve, whether its mitigating an emergency or serving the community by attending neighborhood functions that allow people to meet firefighters in non-stressful situations. Fire Exploring is an extension of that mission and it allows our department to promote positive public relations and enhance our role with the youth in our community.

IFD Chief Ernest V. Malone recognizes the impact of building high-trust relationships with youth and providing career path mentorship. Under his leadership, the Indy Public Safety Foundation provided funding to re-activate and re-invigorate IFD’s Explorer program. IFD has also significantly invested in the program’s re-activation by identifying and training seven (7) firefighters and civilian staff to help support the Post’s operation.

Frontline Supervisor Training
Preparing leaders of the future

Overview

With the assistance of OneAmerica’s Human Resource team, sworn and civilian employees of IMPD, IFD, IEMS, Animal Care & Control (ACC) and other DPS staff developed a cutting edge curriculum and training program. This training provided effective, relevant and consistent supervisor/management training for frontline supervisors, which will empower them to motivate, evaluate, resolve conflicts, better communicate, manage change and plan for the future.

Outcomes

The Frontline Supervisor Training provided new, cutting edge training in leadership and management to over 600 first responders from all DPS agencies. This training was the first of its kinds to bring together supervisors from all agencies to receive uniform training. This ensured that supervisors throughout DPS would all be following the same protocols and procedures, but also developed important inter-agency relationships.

IMPD Cadets
Inspiring the next generation of IMPD officers

Program Overview

With the generous support of the Indianapolis Foundation, a CICF affiliate, IPSF and IMPD re-launched the IMPD Cadet program in 2017. Prior to this time, IMPD did not have a consistent pipeline nor any opportunities to engage youth between the ages of 18 and 21 - the age when an individual is able to apply to be a police officer. The Cadet program fills this crucial gap, thus helping to reduce the loss of qualified candidates, especially amongst under-represented communities.

The IMPD Cadets are assigned to civilian roles within IMPD, giving them exposure to both internal and external audiences and preparing them for future careers as police officers. This provides an impactful value to IMPD in ensuring the administrative function of the agency continues to operate at optimal capacity. In addition, IMPD Cadets are offered opportunities for additional training such as Mental Health First Aid, conflict resolution and de-escalation, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training, Trauma-Informed Care, InterAct (police reporting system), report-writing, physical fitness and more.

Impact

“The IMPD Cadet Program has offered me a new light into the world of public safety. My current position as the Administrative Assistant to Dane Nutty has taught me all about organizational infrastructure. I have seen a significant improvement in my communication skills as well as time management. Being in this position has given me wonderful opportunities that I do not think I could have obtained at any other job.”Dominique Bohannon, IMPD Cadet

IMPD Explorers
Preparing the next generation for a career in public safety

Overview

With the help of the Indy Public Safety Foundation, IMPD was able to launch the IMPD Explorer Program, which provides weekly training for youth between the ages of 12 and 18. Explorers learn about law enforcement practices while developing skills such as communication and responsibility.

IMPD Arbinger Institute Training
Preparing leaders of the future

Overview

IPSF funded training for 25 developing leaders in IMPD to take part in a two-day training by the Arbinger Institute. The training – “Developing and Implementing an Outward Mindset” – teaches participants about new leadership styles pertinent to law enforcement and police leadership, especially with regards to community engagement and involvement.

Outcome

Twenty-five (25) IMPD current and developing leaders received the two-day training and an additional 10 IMPD officers received the “Train the Trainer” 3-day course that allowed them to continue providing this vital training to the entire department. The Foundation’s support allowed IMPD to become certified to teach the 2-day course and IMPD will commence training officers in the first quarter of 2016.

Perpective

“Our jobs can be stressful and dangerous, but this training program helps better connect IMPD with the communities we serve and vice versa.” - Captain Tom Smith, IMPD

The Employee Recognition Banquet is a valued tradition where officers and civillian employees are nominated and awarded by their peers for the courageous, dedicated, and impactful work they do for IMPD and the city.

Project Lifesaver
Keeping patients safe

Overview

The Foundation provided limited funding to help support the program, which provides transmitters for patients with afflictions that case they to wander away from their caregiving environments, such as Autism and Dementia. This resource dramatically reduces search time and recovery, thus reducing the burden on DPS resources and, more importantly, the risk of injury or death.

Outcomes

The funding provided by the Foundation allowed this multi-agency collaborative to provide transmitters to 12 participants currently on the waiting list, but without the resources to afford the unit, which costs about $300. This program needs additional funding to support the growing need for services and assist DPS agencies with the logistics to execute.